On the occasion of the "Day of the State Symbols of the Republic of Armenia", the Armenian Cultural Union in Barcelona, Spain, organized on 24th June 2012, a trekking to the highest peak in the area around Barcelona within the natural park of Santa Fe de Montseny.

Sunday morning, 15 young people who reside in Barcelona traveled to Santa Fe where they had their breakfast and started trekking towards the peak. After two hours of climbing the team reached "Turó de l'Home" (1712 meters), the highest peak of the mountain range.

After a short rest a lecture was delivered on the topic of the State symbols of Armenia. All three symbols (Flag, Coat of Arms and National Anthem) were explained within historical context and the relations with the First Republic of Armenia (1918-1920). The law on the State symbols issued on 25 June 2006 was read.

Later, the team started descending to the town of Santa Fe where it was served food, followed by games and entertainment.

The participants brought with them in this trip Armenian flags and wore T-Shirts with the State symbols (see photos).

ADDITIONAL READING

The State symbols of Armenia are three:

1) Flag:

The law "On the State Flag of the Republic of Armenia" was adopted by the National Assembly on 24 August 1990. Following the constitutional reform of November 27, 2005, a new law on the National Flag of the Republic of Armenia was adopted on June 15, 2006.

The flag is tricolor with three horizontal and equal alternating stripes of red, blue and orange. The red symbolizes Armenian Highlands; constant fight of the Armenian nation for survival, Christian religion, independence and freedom of Armenia. The blue stands for the desire of the Armenian nation to live beneath peaceful sky. The orange symbolizes the creative nature and diligence of the Armenian nation. The correlation between the width and length of the flag is 1/2. Flags of smaller and larger size proportionate to the one described in this section may be used.

2) Coat of Arms:

The law "On the State Coat of Arms of the Republic of Armenia" was adopted on April 19, 1992, by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia. It is based on the Coat of Arms of the First Armenian Republic (1918-1920) designed by member of the Russian Academy of Fine Arts, Architect Alexander Tamanian and artist Hakob Kojoyan.

The coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia has a shield at its center. On the shield are depicted Ararat Mount together with Noah’s Ark and the coats of arms of the four kingdoms of historical Armenia; left from above the Bagratuni, right from above the Arshakuni, left from bottom the Artashisyan, right from bottom the Rubinyans. The shield is held by an eagle (on the left) and a lion (on the right,) and above the shield there are depicted a sword, a branch, bundle of wheat, a chain and a ribbon. The main colour of the coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia is golden. The colour of the kingdoms of the historical Armenia left from above is red, right from above is blue, left from bottom is blue, right from bottom is red and the mount, depicted at the center of the shield is orange. The mentioned colours symbolized the colours of the flag of the Republic of Armenia.

3) National Anthem:

"Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland)

The Anthem of the Republic of Armenia was adopted on July 1, 1991, by the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Armenia. It is based on the Anthem of the First Armenian Republic (1918-1920), but with adjusted lyrics. The author of the lyrics is poet Mikael Nalbandian (1829-1866).

Our Fatherland, free, independent,That has lived for centuries,Is now summoning its sonsTo the free, independent Armenia.

Death is the same everywhere,A man dies but once,Blessed is the one who diesFor the freedom of his nation

Listen to the National Anthem of Armenia performed by the Armenian State Philharmonic Orchestra (Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Eduard Topchjan):